During a meeting with Hossein Forouzan, secretary of the High Council of Free and Special Economic Zones, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahid Jalalzadeh emphasized the importance of using free zones more strategically as platforms to advance Iran’s diplomacy in border areas, also known as provincial diplomacy.
The discussions focused on how to implement the Foreign Ministry’s provincial diplomacy agenda through these free zones, aiming to leverage their economic, commercial, and investment potential to strengthen ties with neighboring countries. Both parties recognized the strategic location of many Iranian free zones along the country's land and maritime borders and stressed the need to convert this geographical advantage into tangible economic and commercial opportunities.
They noted that the free zones could significantly enhance export markets, expand cross-border trade, and strengthen Iran’s economic connections with regional countries. Additionally, the zones were discussed as operational platforms for Iran’s economic diplomacy. The meeting highlighted the need for closer coordination between the Foreign Ministry and the High Council of Free and Special Economic Zones to effectively utilize the zones’ economic, trade, and logistics capacities.
The participants also explored how the free zones could help reduce the Iranian economy’s vulnerability to sanctions. Key areas of discussion included expanding trade with neighboring countries, opening new commercial routes, boosting exports, and maximizing the use of border and transit facilities.
Forouzan pointed out the potential of the free zones in trade and investment and stressed the value of harnessing the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic capabilities to enhance and expand the economic relations of the zones with target markets. He also called for closer alignment between the Foreign Ministry and free zones to advance economic diplomacy and activate the economic potential of Iran’s border regions.
The meeting further emphasized the need to establish cooperation mechanisms and strengthen coordination among Iranian diplomatic missions, provincial administrations, and free-zone authorities. The goal is to identify new economic and commercial opportunities and translate them into concrete projects and exchanges.
These discussions indicate that a stronger provincial diplomacy framework within Iran’s free zones could broaden economic relations with neighboring countries, increase exports and cross-border trade, and unlock the full potential of border areas. This approach could also provide a more effective means for utilizing the country’s free zones to mitigate the effects of sanctions and promote an outward-oriented economy.